Member Blog

It’s free to join SPR and blog about your writing experiences. Read the latest blog entries from our community

3 Reasons to Self-Publish an eBook for Free (And How To Do It) 

Amazon Top 100 Free

Self-publishing can be a doorway to success the likes of which few authors rarely see. Some of the biggest names in the industry rose to prominence after independently publishing their works. But, reaching these lofty heights is not easy. Becoming an author through the self-published route is a challenging process, and presents a number of hurdles that may not be present for authors who gain their notoriety through the traditional publishing scene.

When attempting to succeed in the self-publishing world, you need to use all the tools you have at your disposal. One such tool that you have, that traditionally […]

2019-03-06T09:01:40+02:00March 6th, 2019|Categories: Member Blog|

Why I Wrote My Memoir

The Wrong Side of the RoomI’ve been telling stories about my Sicilian-American family and my career in musical theater all my life. In my delivery, I always attempted to embody the various characters I depicted—specific accents, vocal cadences, facial expression, and gesticulations. Well, I’m Sicilian for God’s sake; we use our hands to tell stories. Can we even talk without our hands? I doubt it. People seemed to enjoy these anecdotes, but I was never certain whether they liked the story for itself or because of my delivery. If they were just seeing words on a page, would it resonate? For this reason, I was

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2019-03-06T10:38:51+02:00March 5th, 2019|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: |

3 Essential Apps for Self-Publishers

Author Apps
I’m a big believer that the vast majority of apps ‘talk the talk’ more than they are able to ‘walk the walk.’

This is understandable. Have you ever been let down by a major company? Anyone who ever purchased a Microsoft Zune can tell you how that feels. If even the major companies such as Microsoft fail to deliver on your expectations, you start to expect that even the smaller organizations will similarly disappoint.

Thankfully, there are many apps out there that buck the trend. Apps that over deliver on your expectations and truly make a positive difference to your […]

2020-02-08T15:59:13+02:00December 17th, 2018|Categories: Features, Member Blog|Tags: |

Should You Fight Back Against Ebook Pirates?

Piracy The first time you find your work stolen is a strange situation.

On the one hand, your pulse is racing. You think back to the hours of blood, sweat, tears and, well, coffee, you poured into a project in order to see it through to completion. The fact that someone else has stolen it, for whatever purpose, can drive you crazy.

On the other, it’s somewhat flattering. Think about the rock stars of the world. Is their work not pirated all the time? The fact that someone has stolen your work means they see something of value in what you […]

2020-04-30T05:28:46+02:00July 10th, 2017|Categories: Member Blog|Tags: , |

3 Valuable Scrivener Features for Self-Publishers

ScrivenerIt’s often difficult to take the leap and change your way of working. As writers, we often become accustomed to our way of doing things. When we find a process that works for us, we cling on to it, stubbornly refusing to change, even if there may be a better way of getting things done.

While there may be a certain charm to holding on to tradition and routine, there is no excuse for passing up an objectively better option that would improve our craft and make our lives easier.

Writing software is a prime example. How many people use […]

2017-07-10T04:13:29+02:00July 10th, 2017|Categories: Member Blog|

Essential Knowledge For Every New Self-Publisher

Self-publishing can be equally exciting and overwhelming. On the one hand, it’s the best opportunity for most of us to realize our dream of publishing a book. Who wouldn’t be excited by the thought of expressing their ideas creatively and hopefully making some money in the process? There’s a heck of a lot to learn. Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur takes a look.

Writing a book is only part of the process. To experience success, self-publishers must be effective in many different areas, including marketing and strategy.

It can be tricky to know exactly where to focus our limited time […]

2019-02-03T09:38:04+02:00April 25th, 2017|Categories: Features, Member Blog|Tags: , |

3 “Great” Book Marketing Ideas That Were a Waste of Money

Indie author Duke Diercks talks about Facebook Ads, digital marketing, and how he “stalked” Adam Sandler…

Small Town HoIf you’re paying attention, I put the word great in quotes. That’s because perhaps I alone thought these ideas were great – at least one of them anyway!

Here’s the deal: as a newly self-published author, I was eager (read: desperate) to get my book noticed. I also have a background in digital marketing so I am familiar with certain online advertising avenues. Immediately, I came up with two ideas to get some exposure:

  • Facebook Advertising
  • Advertising on a High-Traffic Blog

The third idea[…]

2018-05-26T15:50:28+02:00March 23rd, 2017|Categories: Features, Member Blog|Tags: |

3 Powerful Ways To Level Up As A Self-Published Author

AMZProfSometimes it can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd of self-published authors.

It seems as if almost everyone is publishing their own writing these days. One of the things which sets self-published authors apart from traditional writers is the need to be business savvy. This includes marketing yourself and your work in a way which is best able to connect with your readership.

It’s not enough to be just another vanilla author with an unimaginative online presence. To really stand out from the crowd, you need to be imaginative and put as much thought into crafting your […]

2017-02-07T10:59:43+02:00February 7th, 2017|Categories: Member Blog|
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